Seascapes
Possibly my favourite photographic subject. I just love being by the sea, with all its changing moods and light. No day is ever the same.
Into the Blue - A long exposure smooths the water as the sun catches the side of the sea defences at Climping Beach, West Sussex.
Cubed - Ruined defences on Climping Beach are testament to the power of the sea. These cubes are actually the remains of old tank traps, placed to defend against beach landings during World War II.
Into the Blue (2) - Old sea defences lead into the depths.
Storm Days, West Wittering - The sun begins to drop out of the stormy clouds giving a lovely end to the day. At low tide here there are absolutely acres of exposed sand flats which can catch the low raking light of the last rays of sun.
End of the Day, Climping Beach - The last light of the sun rakes across Climping beach, beautifully lighting up white chalk rock that is exposed at low tide.
Moody Blues, West Wittering Beach - I am always drawn to these pools of shallow water that get left behind when the tide goes out. The water in them is often calm and can give great reflections of the sky.
Flying High, Cornwall - Two seagulls brave the gale force winds of one of the Uk's many winter storms, with the Brison's rocks in the distance.
There May Be Trouble Ahead - Massive storm clouds threaten a deluge near Bigbury on Sea, Devon.
Impact - Crashing waves smash onto the onshore rocks with tremendous impact.
Surf's Up, Near Sennen Cove, Cornwall - Windy conditions, a lovely sunny late afternoon and the surf is up.
Heavy Surf - I adore the colours in this image captured near Sennen Cove, Cornwall during very windy and stormy weather.
White Horses - I had spent almost an entire day photographing the changing weather and high tides created by a storm over Cornwall and when I sat down to edit the photos I found a handful which had interesting shapes in the waves. In this image I feel there are two white horses in the surf about two thirds of the way down the wave. I hope you can see them too and it's not just me......
90 Degrees of Separation - Climping Beach again in West Sussex. It has quite a number of very worn down sea defences, many of which are very photogenic. At some stage the sea defence on the right was joined to the ruined one facing out to sea at a right angle.
On the Rocks, Towan Headland, Cornwall - A long exposure has blurred and softened the sea as it flows around the jagged rocks.
The Perch - A lone seagull takes a breather on the sea defences.
Zigzagging, West Wittering - Culverts of water left at low tide catch the limited sun at the end of a stormy day.
The Calm Beneath the Storm - a small pool of calm water at low tide reflects the light in the stormy sky.
Light in the Dark, West Wittering - Sun light finally manages to break through the dark, moody clouds at the end of the day.
Moody Blues (2) - Shafts of light play across the horizon and the calm standing water, left at low tide, picks up what little light there is in the stormy sky.
On the Beach - a few families brave the wind and cold weather at low tide, West Wittering. I love the emptiness in this image and that even in the busy south east of England you can still find some space to yourself (almost).
Reflections - The wonderfully still pool of water exposed at low tide beautifully reflects the light in the sky. I find, more and more, that I enjoy venturing out in stormier and more moody conditions as you sometimes have the opportunity to capture more atmospheric or dramatic images.
Sticks and Stones - The remains of the sea defences and tank traps captured with a long exposure adds a sense of timelessness to the image.
All That Remains ...- The remains of some of the sea defences at Climping Beach, West Sussex. Time and tide have taken their toll.
Translucent - Beautiful emerald green hues captured in a crashing wave, backlit by the late morning sun.
Stormy Seas - Stormy seas off the north coast of Cornwall. I spent the entire day photographing one of the UK storms - Freya - handholding a 100-400mm telephoto lens on top of the cliffs in winds of 60+ miles an hour. It was quite an experience and very difficult to hold the lens still and keep it clean from the deluges of sea spray.
Swan Dive - Another image where I can see a shape in the crest and spray of the wave. This time it seems to me to be a figure doing a full swan dive - hence the title of the image.
On the Rocks - I tried here to capture a beautifully calm and serene feeling in this image and enhanced that sense by using a long exposure to smooth out the waves.
Gimme Shelter - The rocky outcrops provide calm inlets from the turbulent north Cornish seas.
Sticks and Stones (2) - Another calm and somewhat ethereal image captured on the south coast. I don't often take long exposures in bright sun but I feel this one works and I prefer it in colour than black and white.
Golden Days - The sun drops through the clouds on the way to sunset.
End of the day - The day at the seaside is almost over as the setting sun kisses the sea on the distant horizon.
Stormy Sunset - This was a wonderfully stormy sunset near Sennen Cove, Cornwall. I spent a good hour or so capturing the different colours in the clouds before and after the sunset. Just magical.
Simplicity - I do love a clean simple image and so I am often drawn to capturing long exposures with very few items in the scene. It doesn't get much simpler.
Serenity - A beautifully peaceful day at the East Head end of West Wittering beach. The thin layer of water left at low tide provides a lovely, calm mirror to reflect the colours and patterns in the sky.
Into the Blue (3) - I just love this fabulous, isolated sea defence at Climping Beach, West Sussex. I am sure you will have noticed it pops up in a few images in this gallery in different lighting conditions and with different compositions.
Written in Sand - A nod to a favourite Santana song with this title. I've used a low perspective and a wide angle lens to emphasise the ripples of sand in the foreground.
Pools of Calm - Wonderfully still pools of water on a dramatic, dark day at the coast.
There may be trouble ahead (2) - Massive cumulonimbus clouds foretell of heavy rain and storms on the way.
Written in Sand (2) - Another image where I was drawn to the simplicity of the ripples in sand and the calmness of the water.
Almost Lunar - one of my favourite and earliest images. Taken at low tide, West Wittering, I very nearly turned the car around en route as it looked as if the weather wasn't going to play ball. But I'm glad I persevered as I was rewarded with lovely stormy clouds and raking low light across the exposed dunes. I always enjoy images with a strong contrast between light and dark and it is a theme that will reappear regularly throughout the photo galleries.
Heaven's Above - Crepuscular rays of sunlight break through the clouds.
The End - Land's End and the end of the day. Lovely wintry light illuminates the cliff faces at Land's End, Cornwall.
Teardrop - A wintry sunset and a pool of water in the shape of a teardrop reflects the colour in the sky.
Rockpooling - A lovely calm rock pool, near Porthnanven Beach - or dinosaur egg beach as it is sometimes called. In the distance you can see the brisons - the two rocky outcrops which have brought catastrophe to many a ship and now provide sanctuary for seabirds.
Moody Blues (3) - Dramatic light in the sky is reflected in the calm waters.
Pools of Light (2) - Wonderful light is reflected in the calm water.
Crossing the Channel - a channel of calm water is left exposed reflecting the sky. West Wittering is renowned for these pools and channels of water that are left behind, trapped, once the tide goes out. You do have to be careful though as in some parts the advancing tide can come in behind you leaving you exposed and cut off on a sandbank.
Pastel Skies - A long exposure in the blue hour, just after sunset, gives a beautifully calm image.
Symmetry - Sea defences and navigation posts balance in perfect symmetry.
Into the Blue (4) - Sea defences sink into the waters below.
Windy Days - A very blustery day at East Head, West Wittering.
Afterglow, Land's End - Blue hues and an orange afterglow dominate the tones in this image, captured a little while after a winter's sunset.
Hanging in there - Mussels hang on grimly to the rocks as the Cornish tide rushes by. I do love the heart shaped group of mussels in the centre foreground.
Tranquility (2) - A very tranquil coastal scene enhanced by a very long camera exposure.
Waiting for the Sun - Huts on West Wittering beach sit out the winter, waiting for the sun and the return of the families that use them.
Parallel Lines (2) - I like the simplicity in this image and the bands of sand and water in the near ground. Captured with a telephoto lens to compress the perspective and enable the viewer to sea the yacht o the horizon.
End of the Day, Kimmeridge - Sunset at Kimmerdige Bay with the Clavell Tower standing proud on the cliffs beyond and the rocks in the foreground catching the last light of the setting sun.
All a blur - A wave breaks on the shore and I have used intentional camera movement to blur the scene and introduce more of a sense of movement to the image.
Bands of Gold - The Isle of Wight sits low on the horizon and a long lens has compressed the perspective in the scene, allowing me to emphasis the parallel bands of exposed sand and water at sunset.
In the Shadows - I've spent many hours at Durdle Door in Dorset, and taken many images, but this one stands out to me as a little different. Instead of capturing the arch in glorious light I like the fact it is in shadow and also the sheen on the water in the foreground. A different take on a beautiful and iconic location.